Pool Closing Guidelines
 

These are suggestions for closing above ground round and oval pools. They
are guide-lines only and Poolmart accepts no responsibility for damage caused 
by inclement weather or normal deterioration. 

WINTERIZING- VINYL LINER ABOVE GROUND POOLS (for information on in-ground's 
stop in or call.) 

Proper winterizing of your pool should save you hours of problems and headaches 
next spring if you take the time to do it right. There is no 100% guaranteed 
perfect way to do it because we have no way to knowing what Mother Nature is 
going to throw at us in the next seven months. All we can really do is give it 
our best shot which, historically, has worked pretty well. Basically, the whole 
process is mostly common  sense and a little water chemistry by your favorite pool 
store (we assume that's Poolmart)!

STEP 1: WATER BALANCE

Cold water absorbs minerals! So, if your water's calcium hardness and total
alkalinity were a little low over the summer, you should get it up before the water 
really chills down. Remember, the only thing your water has to dissolve over the 
winter is your pool's liner or finish. The three things that must be done are A. 
Get the total alkalinity to at least 150, B. Get the pH as close to 7.5 as you can, 
and C. Set the calcium hardness close to at least 200 Of course, our lab is available 
to help you with these adjustments.

STEP 2: HOUSEKEEPING CHORES

Go to bed dirty, and you'll wake up in worse shape, You want the pool as clean as 
possible before you put on the cover, Brush the walls, clean the ..Bathtub" ring 
around the tile line with Proteam TILE/VINYL CLEANER. This is a special formulation 
for pools, DO NOT (repeat) DO NOT use household products such as "409", "Fantastic", 
or "Comet Cleaner" as they contain solvents not compatible with pool water chemistry 
and may also score, scratch and deteriorate your liner making it easier for grime to 
accumulate and dull your liner. Next, after everything has settled, vacuum the pool. 

STEP 3: WINTERIZER KIT/ FIBERGLASS MA y ALSO POUR IN A QUART OF PROTEAM MET AL MAGIC

With the filter running, sprinkle the "Winter Shock" around the pool surface. If the 
water is below 70 degrees you might pre-dissolve just as you did with Burn Out WP or 
Power Magic. Let this circulate a couple hours then, to protect the pool from algae, 
pour the "Winter Algicide" around the edges of your pool. Let the pool circulate a 
couple more hours before going to step 4. If you have a sand filter, you may want to 
clean the sand bed at this point with Proteam FILTER CLEANER. Follow the label 
directions carefully before going to the next step. If, you have a cartridge or earth 
filter and are not sure how to clean, call Poolmart.

 STEP 4: DRAIN AND BACKWASH

Drain your pool down to just below the skimmer/ vacuum opening. You may do this with 
the filter on backwash until you start to pull air, then shut off the filter and pump. 
DO NOT leave the pool unattended during this procedure as you may burn out your pump 
if it runs dry .

You can siphon the balance of the water using a garden hose. Simply put a garden hose 
in the pool as if you were going to refill. Turn on the water until all the air is out 
of the hose and disconnect it from the hose. You will then see water coming out. You 
are now siphoning your pool. Just don't forget to pull the hose out when the level is 
where you want or you may empty the pool, at which point go back to "Step 1 ".

 STEP 5: EQUIPMENT

Thoroughly clean the skimmer basket and housing. Get out the "Pool-Goo" by using you 
TILE/VINYL CLEANER. Do the same with the pump strainer basket. Remove the eyeball 
fittings from the return lines and insert the winter disk if you nave a Doughboy pool 
or follow the instructions of your pool manufacturer for winterizing their equipment. 
We do not recommend removing the skimmer unless you have a "Winter Skimmer Plate'. 
The reason is the your liner may slip and moisture will get between the wall and liner 
causing possible deterioration to the wall.

Next, disconnect the hoses from the filter, leaving them attached to the pool. This 
will help take the over flow away from the pool. Do not plug the skimmer as it will 
fill with water, freeze and crack. Remove the weir (that's the door that bobs up and 
down) and the vacuum port cover assembly If you don't remove these, ice may sheer 
them off. It is a good idea to put an empty half-gallon milk jug upside down in the 
skimmer, then replace the skimmer lid to take up any 1ce expansion into the skimmer 
from overflow and keep snow out.

Now, let's work on the filter. All filters, regardless of the type, should be taken 
apart at this time and cleaned. If you put them away dirty, you will have a real 
problem in the spring. Dismantle your tank and if you have a D.E. Filter, spray off 
the grids and tank with a high pressure hose. This should bring them back to looking 
new. If they still look grungy, call us and we'll tell you how to clean them. 
Re-assemble the filter, making sure you grease up all the rubber O-rings with 
"Magic Lube" ( NOT VASELINE) so they don't dry out and degrade over the winter.

SAND FILTERS: Inspect your sand-bed. It's no fun, but do it now and save yourself a 
problem in the spring. clean off the top inch or so if dirty and carefully dig down 
into the bed. If it's a mess, don't aggravate yourself, dump it and replace it with 
new sand next spring. The cost of sand is a lot less than a divorce attorney just 
because the pool won't clear up.

Make sure that you store all little parts like drain plugs, eyeball rings, skimmer 
baskets, etc., in a safe place where nobody will ever find them. so Poo1- mart can 
sell you new ones next season. Get the idea?! Now, store your filter and pump inside, 
if possible, except sand filter tanks full of sand. Do not try and move them. You can 
only hurt something. Leave the drain plug, at the bottom of the tank, off all winter 
so water and moisture don't accumulate and crack the tank.

 

STEP 6: THE COVER

Quite simply, place the cover over the pool. Pull the cable tight, hope for a short 
winter. DO NOT USE A P1LLOW UNDER THIS COVER. This do nothing except shorten the life 
of your cover. If you are in a windy area and your cover is flapping, call us about 
our special "WIND STABALIZER KITS".


©2006 Poolmart & Spas